LETTER TO MASON COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CHARLIE BUTROS
Submitted to Shelton Blog by Tom Davis Mason County Progressive
March 24, 2011
Dear Mr. Butros,
I live about eight miles west of Shelton, in Dayton, just off Highland Road, and for the past week or so I’ve been seeing ten yard dump trucks pass my house, sometimes at the rate of one every 2.5 to 3 minutes.
A couple of days ago I followed one of these trucks, - filled with what looked like small diameter rock (maybe ¾ minus), from the Simpson’s gravel pit, located about a mile south of my house - to the Mason-Benson Lake area, where it turned onto a logging road. I clocked the distance at 26.3 miles, one way, and followed the truck back on its return trip to the pit, just to make sure.
What struck me was that these trucks seem to be taking a somewhat roundabout route, both directions: North on Highland; East on Airport Rd.; North on Hwy. 101; East on Brockdale Rd.; (South at the “T”); East on McEwan Prairie Rd.; and then about eight miles north on Mason Lake Rd. to the logging road entrance.
As stated above, this steady parade of dump trucks has been going on for about a week; some seem capable of the task, others appear to have escaped from the scrap-iron heap, and leave a thick cloud of diesel smoke in their wake. So here are my questions:
1. Are there any pollution emission standards that apply to these trucks?
2. Have you any information about how long SImpson will need to utilize this caravan of dump-trucks?3. Does such excessive usage translate to higher fees for wear and tear of County maintained roads, and/or was there a special usage permit issued?
Thank you for any answers you might be able to provide. Toward that end, a copy of this email is being sent to: Dave McEntee, Vice President, Operational Services and External Affairs, Simpson Lumber Company, LLC
Very truly yours,
Tom Davis
Mason County, WA
Tom, did you not get the memo, this is Simpson Country. Don't go making waves for the folks that bring us...
ReplyDeleteExactly what is it that Simpson brings to this community?
I mean, besides compromised air quality, air polluting logging trucks, air polluting dump trucks, air polluting trains, and a harbor filled with pollution. Besides those things, what exactly does Simpson bring to this community?
Dear Mr. Davis,
ReplyDeleteMr. Butros asked me to respond to your questions.
1) Are there any pollution emission standards that apply to these trucks?
We do not handle emission standards. You may want to contact the Washington State Department of Ecology to address your concerns.
2)Have you any information about how long Simpson will need to utilize this caravan of dump-trucks?
We have no information on this project.
3)Does such excessive usage translate to higher fees for wear and tear of County maintained
roads, and/or was there a special usage permit issued?
Since the 10 yard dump trucks are within normal legal load limits, we do not need to permit, nor mandate a route for these trucks. They are utilizing a public roadway.
I’m sorry that I do not have any more information to share, but it looks like you have the right idea by contacting Mr. Dave McEntee, with Simpson. He should be able to further explain the project and the choices they are making.
Kind regards,
Amy